Platen-shifting attachment for type-writing machines



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-#Sheet 1.

` A. W. PRITGHARD.' N PLATNNSIIITTING ATTACHMENT IORTYPN WRITING MACHINES.

No. 284,231. Patented sept. 4,1883.

TEUFIE l flnlassekwel-EER w/v @404/ jfl/MWA W Jim/@ Y 4 @Img/4.46?

(No Model.)l 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

Af W.` PRITCHARD. PLATBN SHIFTING ATTACHMENT FOR'TYPE WRITING MACHINES. N0.-284,231. Patented Sept.v 4, 1883.

@ef/ff@ gem@ N. PETERS. Mmmgnmr, wnmingxmn c.

i n UNITED STATES f PATENT Clarion.

ARTHUR XV. IRITCHARD,` OFALLEGHENY, PENNSYLVANIA.

PLTEN-SHIFTING ATTACHMENT FOR TYPE-WRITING MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 284,231, dated September 4, 1883.

4 Application filed December. S, 1882i. (No model.)

new and useful Improvements in Platen-Shifting Attachments for Type-Vriting Machines;

` and I do hereby declare the following to be a n cates a perspective view of my improved de.; vice for operating the `platen-shifting mechanfull, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable othersskilled in' the art to which it appertainsto make anduse the same, reference being had to the accompany- `ing drawings and the letters of reference part of this` ism of type-writing machines.- Fig. 2 ou Sheet "l indicates a perspective view of the device attached to the keyboard of a type-writing machine. Fig. 1 on Sheet 2 indicatesa de- :tached view of a disk-basket,a set of typey wherever they occur. j

My invention relates to an improved attachof the platen-carriage.

1. fshifting mechanism mounted inaframe. Fig.

i j Fig. 4 indicates a plan View, and Fig.` 5 indi- 3 indicates a front view of the improvement;

cates a view of the connecting-rod for attach- `ing my improvement to the platen shift-key or bar.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts mentadapted for use on that class of type-writing machines which employ different kinds, sizes, or styles of the same letters of type, hav

1 ing double types mounted on the type-bars,

and provided with shifting cylinders or platens mounted on their .carriages in such a manner as to admit of a-limited forward and backf ward movement of the platen in order to adjust the latter into the proper relation to adf mit of an impressionbeing `made by whichever kind or` size of type that may from time to time be desired; and it is especially adapted 5o i ton Standard fIype-W'riterNo.2,77 whichis supto the use of what is known as the Reming- `plied with double types, or has two types-a small and a capital letter-on each type-bar, and the machine is provided with a shifting cylinder or platen capable` of a backward and forward adjustment upon its carriage, being held in a forward position by aplaten=spring, `so that it will print the ysmall letters on the 'forward part of the double types, and may be forced backward by depressing a platen-shifting key, which communicates through suitable devices that movement to the platen, so that impressions may be made from the capital letters on the back portion of the double types,

-all of which is well known to those skilled in the art, as the machines referred to are well known and in wide and extensive use.

In thefuse of double-type writers theV platen shift-keymust be depressed'and held down `until the capital or number of capitals are struck that the operator desires to print. This requires the use of one hand, and the operator is confined to the use of the other in striking the capitals. Consequently a considerable loss of time lis had, as many capitals are required for headings, &c., and as it is frequently necessary to printthe entire body of the articles in capital or large letters.

Theobject of myinvention is to allow the operator the use of `both hands in 4striking the lcapital or large letters; and this object I have fully obtained by the use of an attachment which may be readily fitted to the platen shift-key or key-bar, and may be actuated by the knee of the operator from time to time, as

- may be desired.

In the drawings, by reference to Fig. I o'n Sheet 1, it will be observed the attachment is shown as constructed from wire, the use `of this material being preferable, though any other mayI be employed. The attachment is formed by bending apiece of heavy wire double at its middle and pressing the wire together to form a stem of the length desired. The wire is then bent ata pointa'few inches from its ends in such a manner as to `form arms extending at right angles to the' stem and to each other. p

A indicates the stem.

a and a indicate the projecting arms.

b indicates a spring formed `of a thin fiat piece of steel soldered at its lower end ty one side of the stem A and extending outward in a curved line in the opposite direction to the arm a.

c indicates a connecting-rod threaded at its lower end, whichY is adapted to pass through a loop on the end of the arm a, and is provided with a nut for securing and adjusting it thereto. The upper portion of this rod c is curved to enable it to loop over and engage the platen shift-key or keybar.

In the use of my improvementa small vertical aperture is made through the bottom of the key-board and the table to allow the connectingr'od c to pass through and engage the platen shift-keyor key-bar, as is indicatedin Fig.2. A couple of small staples (shown in Fig.

2, Sheet 2) are then fastened to the under side of the table -in a proper position to allow the arm a of the device to be slipped into and engage them, which being done thelower end of the connecting-rod c is passed through the loop on the end of the arm a', and the device is adj usted into the position shown against the' forward part of the lower side of the table-of the machine.

The operation ofthe improvement is as fol-k lows When it is desired to print capital letters, the knee of the operator is pressed outward against the inner side of the downwardly-y projecting stem A, and the latter swings up toward the lower surfaces of the table, turning upon 'its arm or pivot a, which, as before stated, engages in the staples on the lower surface of the table. kIhiscauses a retrograde movement of the arm a and the connectingrod c, thus drawing down the platen shift-key bar, which in its turn communicates motion through the platen-shifting mechanism to the platen, forcing the latter back into the proper position to allow impressions to be made by the action of the capital types on the rear pori tionof the double-type bars, and the platen will remain in such position until the knee of the operator is withdrawn from the side of the stem A, at which moment the action of the spring b will force the device again into its former position, and the platenwill be brought forward an d the platen key-bar drawn upward by the action of the platen-spring usually employed for that purpose. Y

The advantages of my invention are mainly, first, the operator is allowed the use of both hands when printing capitals or changing from size, weight, Snc., it can be transported by mail or express with little cost tothe purchaser.

Having described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In combination with the platen shift-key of a type-writing machine, a platen shift attachment consisting-of a lever attached to the platen shift-key, a bent lever attached to said first lever and fulcrumed in the table, anda spring attached to said bent lever and adapted to force said lever to its normal position after same has been acted upon by ethe knee, substantially in the manner and for the purposes described.

2. A platen shift attachment composed of a `depending stem or lever, a set of arms proj ecting at or near right angles to the stem and vto each other, a spring attached to the stem -and extending in an opposite direction to one ofthe arms, and a connecting-rod constructed and arranged substantially as and for the .purpose set forth.

A. W. PRITCHARD.

Witnesses:

FRANK M. REEsE, WALTER REEsE. 

